Fighting to survive in a world where black and white are right and wrong... Eighteen-year-old Sephy feels totally alone - and terrified - as gazes down at her new-born daughter. Whilst Sephy is a Cross, the baby's father, Callum - who was hanged for terrorism months ago - was a nought, giving her baby dual heritage in a society where the ruling Crosses treat the pale-skinned noughts - *blankers* - as second-class citizens. While Sephy faces and uncertain future, Callum's brother Jude can only brood on the past. Eaten up with bitterness, he blames Sephy for Callum's death - and has sworn revenge. Sephy fears Jude, but when his actions take him to the brink of disaster, his life poised on a knife edge, can she stand by and do nothing? Will she be forced - once again - to take sides...?